Shai McKenzie 4 star recruit from Wash. Pa. who chose VT over PITT is transferring as a grad transfer after a very lackluster career. He has about 600 yards in his VT career. Prime example of star not living up to star system. How many grad transfer running backs really improve on their college careers?
4 star Shai McKenzie
- Thread starter pbrad
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Two bad knee injuries (one in his senior year of high school) will do that to a player. And getting into some trouble involving a 15-year old female doesn't endear a player to his coaches either.....
if he was any kind of player, you can guarantee the other "stuff" would have been glossed over. Maybe he can have a decent season at southwest Michigan or some other directional school
It's never personal sour grapes, I never want a guy who spurns Pitt to get badly injured or anything (and I especially feel no glee at all that a guy who blew us off would later get busted as a pedophile).
But I scoff at those who act like they are still "happy" for such a recruit or "wish him well".
I sincerely hope he has a good life, gets a degree, good career, family, all that. As I would anyone.
But on the field, it's totally NOT in Pitt's best interest that he excel. Obviously so if we ever PLAY that team in his years there. But how can it ever be good for Pitt or it's fans that such a guy blow us off, and go on to prosper?
That's not the same as "blaming" the kid for spurning Pitt. Pitt is solely responsible to make itself attractive to the best recruits. Whatever it takes. If it was money or cars or free easy sex (ideally with adults) or 'tutoring' above and beyond...those criteria may not please our puritanical wing, but they are definitely out there as priorities for some kids, and NCAA turns a blind eye, so that legitimizes it. If this guy, or Foster, Henry, et al chose payola or other scurrilous reasons to decide on someone over us (as often is bandied) ... i hold them in no more or less disdain for it. I don't care if you spurned us for a school with a divinity program: I ain't rooting for ya on the field.
I hope McKenzie leads a healthy productive life (unless a true pedophile!), but damn glad he amounted to little on the field at VT. If you are a Pitt fan so should you.
But I scoff at those who act like they are still "happy" for such a recruit or "wish him well".
I sincerely hope he has a good life, gets a degree, good career, family, all that. As I would anyone.
But on the field, it's totally NOT in Pitt's best interest that he excel. Obviously so if we ever PLAY that team in his years there. But how can it ever be good for Pitt or it's fans that such a guy blow us off, and go on to prosper?
That's not the same as "blaming" the kid for spurning Pitt. Pitt is solely responsible to make itself attractive to the best recruits. Whatever it takes. If it was money or cars or free easy sex (ideally with adults) or 'tutoring' above and beyond...those criteria may not please our puritanical wing, but they are definitely out there as priorities for some kids, and NCAA turns a blind eye, so that legitimizes it. If this guy, or Foster, Henry, et al chose payola or other scurrilous reasons to decide on someone over us (as often is bandied) ... i hold them in no more or less disdain for it. I don't care if you spurned us for a school with a divinity program: I ain't rooting for ya on the field.
I hope McKenzie leads a healthy productive life (unless a true pedophile!), but damn glad he amounted to little on the field at VT. If you are a Pitt fan so should you.
Yep. Virginia Tech realized how his career was going, so they recruited "around him". He'd become fodder...nothing more. He hadn't been contributing to any great extent, and they projected that he wasn't going to either. There's no evidence that VaTech tried to discourage his departure...so now they have one more scholarship to award to someone with much more potential.
One thing Pitt & Coach Pat & Staff have done with Consistency is having the Pitt Recruits and Player's focus on staying within the Rules of the Team and Classrooms, Film and Weight Rooms, and improving themselves and their play as a Team.
The Opportunities to work hard, develop one's talent, and become a contributor to Pitt Football is there for anyone at Pitt. It is up to them to see those opportunities and become part of Pitt and if the choose elsewhere so be it.
Good luck to Shai wherever he ends up, like Coach Narduzzi said the Day Recruiting closed in his first year, "I Am Just Focus On Those That Chose And Want to be And Play At Pitt" and so be that too.
The Opportunities to work hard, develop one's talent, and become a contributor to Pitt Football is there for anyone at Pitt. It is up to them to see those opportunities and become part of Pitt and if the choose elsewhere so be it.
Good luck to Shai wherever he ends up, like Coach Narduzzi said the Day Recruiting closed in his first year, "I Am Just Focus On Those That Chose And Want to be And Play At Pitt" and so be that too.
I get a kick out of people still promoting their H.S. star rating as if it describes this 21 or 22 year old of today. The same w/ Robert Foster.
Based on their production & contribution as players for their universities I would say both would be lucky to be considered a 5.5, 3 star at best. A kid like Jester Weah would have been jumped to a 5.7 if not 5.8 based on his senior years production. Henderson would have jumped to a strong 4 star.
But as far as identifying a young man who is considering a transfer for Grad school & to finish off his athletic career, I think it's time we throw out the H.S. b.s. & grade them on what they did in their 4 years at university.
No one gave Quintin Wirginis or Rori Blair(deserved or not) any added star bonus when they were hurt in H.S. thus I do not think that either McKenzie or Foster get any sympathy based on their college injuries.
H2 PITT !!!
Based on their production & contribution as players for their universities I would say both would be lucky to be considered a 5.5, 3 star at best. A kid like Jester Weah would have been jumped to a 5.7 if not 5.8 based on his senior years production. Henderson would have jumped to a strong 4 star.
But as far as identifying a young man who is considering a transfer for Grad school & to finish off his athletic career, I think it's time we throw out the H.S. b.s. & grade them on what they did in their 4 years at university.
No one gave Quintin Wirginis or Rori Blair(deserved or not) any added star bonus when they were hurt in H.S. thus I do not think that either McKenzie or Foster get any sympathy based on their college injuries.
H2 PITT !!!
I always find that weird as well. As if they put more trust in the star system than they do the kid's actual productivity.
It's like the old saying, "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?"
That's completely bizarre. How they were projected to do when they were 16 and 17 does not trump what they have actually done or not done by the time they are 21 or 22.
They say things like, "Well he can't have been a bust. He was a four star player with 21 scholarship offers. There's no way all those people could've been wrong."
Of course those people all could've been wrong – it happens all the time.
Then there are always all kinds of excuses for these kids. They talk about injuries, being recruited around, system fits, and all the rest of it.
However, that never comes up when these kids are being recruited in the first place and we warn people about all of these 1 million factors that determine the relative success or failure of a prospect.
Look, this is the bottom line business and if you fail to produce you are a bust, regardless of the reason.
Similarly, if you come to college as a lower rated prospect and you flourish, it doesn't matter that you were lowly regarded when you were 16 or 17 years-old. All that matters is what you achieve once you get to college.
Your touchdowns don't count for five points – they count for six points, just like everyone else's touchdowns.
Here's the bottom line: Shai McKenzie, Rushel Shell and Robert Foster were all college busts – regardless of how highly rated they were coming out of high school.
It's like the old saying, "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?"
That's completely bizarre. How they were projected to do when they were 16 and 17 does not trump what they have actually done or not done by the time they are 21 or 22.
They say things like, "Well he can't have been a bust. He was a four star player with 21 scholarship offers. There's no way all those people could've been wrong."
Of course those people all could've been wrong – it happens all the time.
Then there are always all kinds of excuses for these kids. They talk about injuries, being recruited around, system fits, and all the rest of it.
However, that never comes up when these kids are being recruited in the first place and we warn people about all of these 1 million factors that determine the relative success or failure of a prospect.
Look, this is the bottom line business and if you fail to produce you are a bust, regardless of the reason.
Similarly, if you come to college as a lower rated prospect and you flourish, it doesn't matter that you were lowly regarded when you were 16 or 17 years-old. All that matters is what you achieve once you get to college.
Your touchdowns don't count for five points – they count for six points, just like everyone else's touchdowns.
Here's the bottom line: Shai McKenzie, Rushel Shell and Robert Foster were all college busts – regardless of how highly rated they were coming out of high school.
I agree with your post in general. But if Henderson doesn't rate 5 stars, as a unanimous all American as a true sophomore, in your system than who would?
I also think another wrinkle in this (at least in Pitt fans' eyes) is the way with which these kids made their decision. We obviously know Shell's actions. He shot himself in the foot, but always felt he was better than Pitt. His mom basically said that if it wasn't for his kids, he wouldn't be at Pitt.
Foster looked Pitt bound and had a strange commitment announcement; we may never know what happened (although his mom was wearing blue and gold during the announcement).
But from what I remember, McKenzie talked some smack on Pitt during his recruitment. It is one thing to spurn the local school, but don't take any unnecessary shots. If the local school didn't offer you, that is one thing. But when they offered you a full ride and you take shots at them, you are bringing something on yourself.
There was a WVU player during the years Walt was our coach that was talking all kinds of smack about Pitt leading up to our game with them. And not the typical rivalry stuff. It sounded like he was saying Pitt thought they were too good for him, I will make Pitt pay....that sort of stuff. The only issue is Pitt offered him and was actively recruiting him. He chose WVU, so it made no sense.
There have been plenty of players who chose to leave Western PA. Pitt fans wish ill will to those who disrespectfully turn down Pitt. Going through the process and making a decision doesn't draw the ire of Pitt fans. Look at Adams, etc. The strange thing is most of the players who talk smack on Pitt don't seem to work out or live up to expectations. Maybe they are overrated to begin with. Who knows?
I'll get back to your questions on Paterno this weekend, it is tough response that needs much time to explain.
Good comments by you above too. On the Recruiting Star Players, Clemson had some Walk-Ons and Transfers and won NCS because they made themselves better and had the support to follow Coaching Instructions.
I have seen far more 2 & 3 Star Recruits become Great CFB & NFL Players improve compared to 4 & 5 Star Recruits fail to become what they thought they could become by waiting on someone else to make them better?
Smart Recruits really look at the Team they may be playing on and where they think they can play right away. The dumb one look at Attendance, Coaches, Boosters, and listen to what they are being sold thinking it sounds right at that time, but it is and will always be on them.
Larry Fitzgerald is a prime example. He looked at Ohio State, Pitt, and later Penn State after going to College Prep School to Qualify. He again looked at all 3 Programs. He studied their Systems and saw where he could Start right away and told is Dad....."I Think I Can Make More Catches At Pitt Than Ohio or Penn State!" He Father responded.....I think your right son.
Larry saw Walt Harris System was a West Coast Passing Offense with little to no one in front of him at Wideout. Shady McCoy saw the same thing under Wannstedt Pro-Set needing a great running back right away and flipped from Penn State to Pitt.
Tony Morelli and his Father did not see PSU seldom produces Great QBs in any System but went there anyway, he does not play in the NFL today, but Joe Flacco does after spending 2 yaers at Pitt and a great QB Coach like Walt Harris then knowing he had to transfer if wants to play right away, and now won Super Bowls. Big Ben spent summer camps at Walt Harris QB Camps and credits his play what he learned there and has won Super Bowls.
Rushel Shell also thought by showing up he was entitled to playing on his terms too? he has bounce around and ended up at WVU where they pass and run faster but not in an offense that would feature his skill better, and he now hopes to get drafted,
Darrrele Revis, Jordan Whitehead, Aaron Donald, James Conner and many more at Pitt just said, what do i have to do to win a job as a starter, and did it because theyw ere needed right away as well.?
Top Recruits always have the opportunity to play anywhere and Programs loaded with Top Talent will be a challenge too, with 40+ Four & Five Star Recruits.
Smart Recruits really study what Programs will give them the opportunity to play right away and a good fit for their skills to develop faster by playing where their talent is needed right away and can make the millions in the NFL sooner not later.
The opportunity to play Football adds to one experience to learn the game and always depends on the better minds that see through the huffs, puffs, and many offers of promises when only deeds to practice and perform always required.
Pitt needs Linebackers more than anything right now. If I am a Linebacker right now in demand, I would choose Pitt Is it!
Penn State and Ohio State has almost everyone back and Recruiting Classes in Top 20 loaded with Talent, anyone wanting to play right away should be looking elsewhere right about now, based on what Programs need them right away.
Smart Recruits look at that more than anything else. It is not what you may be if you come now it is where I am needed right now?
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Shai should have went to PSU. They would erect a statue for him.
I was not all that concerned w/ being exact as I was just making a point. Yeah sure Henderson could be a 5 star although I would much rather see how he backs up this year w/ a big season next year as well. At that point then I definitely award Quad that 5th star.
H2 PITT !!!
In 2006, on the eve of the Orange Bowl, Paterno had this to say about a Florida State linebacker named A. J. Nicholson who had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman: “There’s so many people gravitating to these kids. He may not have even known what he was getting into, Nicholson. They knock on the door; somebody may knock on the door; a cute girl knocks on the door. What do you do?”
Paterno continued to a group of reporters: “Geez. I hope—thank God they don’t knock on my door, because I’d refer them to a couple of other rooms.”
After Paterno’s comments became public, the National Organization for Women called for his resignation.
Paterno continued to a group of reporters: “Geez. I hope—thank God they don’t knock on my door, because I’d refer them to a couple of other rooms.”
After Paterno’s comments became public, the National Organization for Women called for his resignation.
In the case of McKenzie, I felt badly when he chose VaTech. But with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, I'm now glad that he did.
theNoise88
a pedophile is attracted to prepubescent children, a 15 year old is not prepubescent unless she is the biggest late bloomer in the world
also Shai was 19, lets not put a 19 year old having sex with a 15 year old in the same category as jerry sandusky
i guess all those seniors at my high school that were dating the freshman were total perves, right?
a pedophile is attracted to prepubescent children, a 15 year old is not prepubescent unless she is the biggest late bloomer in the world
also Shai was 19, lets not put a 19 year old having sex with a 15 year old in the same category as jerry sandusky
i guess all those seniors at my high school that were dating the freshman were total perves, right?
Maybe not but there's a big difference between 19 and 15. I never would have let my daughters date a Sr as a Fr.
I root big time for WPIAL players no matter where they play. I want them (not necessarily their team) to become stars, go to the NFL and make millions. I would prefer them to go through Pitt, but if not, oh well. Rep WPA first.
